Freddy the Freeloader

[DOUGHBOYS]

It's easy to debate Votto or Upton in the first round. There are no losers there. Let's talk about end gamers.
End game pitchers.
But then again, is anybody really an end gamer in a 50 round draft?

Freddy Garcia.
I remember taking him in the sixth round of a draft when he was young.
Man I'm old!
Garcia is like Livan Hernandez son. Younger, not what he used to be, but somehow always finding a job.
He throws in a home run hitters park, but is backed by a team that'll give him run support.
And for this pitcher, who he throws for is more important than what he throws.
Freddy Garcia is 'Freddy the Freeloader'. He is living off the Yankees offense.

Garcia is for all intents and purposes, a one category guy.
Wins.
Not many pitchers can say that.
His E.R.A. is 3.62, a WHIP of 1.36 and his strike out days are over, not even reaching triple figures with 96.
In a strange way, I liken Garcia to Michael Young in fantasy.
Young is unusual in that he is a high draft pick who really doesn't help in two large categories, home runs and stolen bases.
They are both peculiar players for fantasy purposes.

Calling Garcia an innings eater is probably wrong. He averaged less than six innings a start in his 25 starts.
But, he does win. He won 12 of his 25 starts. That doesn't sound like much.
A comparison will bring it more to life.
He started 25 games and won 12.
Tim Lincecum started 33 games and won 13.
We draft pitchers for their peripherals and think we have no control over wins.
We do. But, in the process, sometimes, a hit has to be taken in other categories.
We feel confident throwing Lincecum against anybody. We want Garcia at home vs. the Orioles...And we still pray that he doesn't get the tar knocked out of him.

When drafting, some of us take wins out of the equation.
We shouldn't.
A pitcher doesn't have to be good to get wins. Just good enough to stay in a game for five innings with a good hitting team behind him.
Ivan Nova won 16 games last year. Tied for ninth. Drafters know that Nova was credited with those wins, but circumstances for his victories should get more of the credit. He was a decent pitcher on a great hitting team.

Verlander-Detroit
Kennedy-Arizona
Kershaw-Dodgers
Halladay-Phils
Sabathia-Yankees
Weaver-Angels
Cl Lee-Phils
Gallardo-Brewers

Those are the pitchers and teams that finished ahead of Nova in wins.
Except Kershaw, all played on very good teams.
This year, Kershaw could be Tim Lincecum.
There is room in our game for end gamers like Freddy Garcia.
Garcia is just like us.
He just wants to win.

[gpchurchill]

garcia reminds me of storm davis, circa '88, '89. i could see garcia winning more games in 2012 than last, with even worse periph's.

[Spartacus]

Freddy the Freeloader reminds me of Clem Kadiddlehopper. Just sayin'....................